Mirela Carter

—

“Tu es très belle,” Jacques offers. “His taste isn’t good taste, eh.” There’s a double-take, off her words. Too true, he does assume most people are typically there in service; or in the hopes of becoming the very vessels he can rely on. “Are you, not?” He can joke right back. “I won’t understand anything, without your light.” Readying for the pictures, Jacques shifts to catch the screen off her phone. “What is her name?”

“Merci” Mirela smirked, feeling that good stroke on the ego when Jacques  complimented her. She already knew that fact, and having someone who exhaled power like him affirming those words made her feel really great. “Sorry to disappoint you, but no. The world doesn’t revolve around you, Mr. Baptiste”, her voice kept playful, her confidence stronger than ever. “Alright, I can make you this favor, on the condition you’ll call me next time you want to impress the society with another unique piece”, she smiled and leaned closer to him while she opened the gallery with her daughter’s pictures, “Her name is Erika, and she’s... just look at her”, Mirela was now exulding in pride and showed him a candid video of Erika smiling back at her as she approached teh cradle.

Puck could recognize a brush off when they saw it, and stepped back hands slightly raised, but their smile didn’t slip. Working in their line of business every night was toeing the line of friendly and flirtatious, it was all fun and games with no actual intention of followthrough. Focusing instead on the second, safer, topic they voiced their opinion.

“Its not my favorite, but the actors make it worth the while.” Rocking back on her heals they looked over the crowd, breaking eye contact.  “You eager to be somewhere else? You could probably sneak out with the rest of the intermission crowd, better now then once the next act starts” The advice is genuine, Puck had more than enough experience sneaking in and out of places to know when the best moment is to make an exit. 

Mirela nodded, it could have been worse, but thankfully the actors were good enough to make those hours berable. Besides, they were all, not great, but they studied their script well to make the lines sound just like songs, the way that made Mirela fall in love with the Shakespeare plays. “Yes, I am...”, she bit her bottom lip, having a half smile on her lips at the thought of Erika back home.

—

“She’s cute,” Adam offered with a genuine smile - not at all just a polite platitude. It was hard not to notice the little girl when baby planning had practically consumed his personal life lately. It made him wonder, of course, about the approaching arrival of his own child - the equal measures of excitement and anxiety as the baby girl fussed. “How old is she? If you don’t mind me askin’. I’ve got one on the way and I’m - open to any tips I can get.”

Mirela nodded, “She is the cutest baby I’ve ever seen”, she gazed upon her before turning her head back to the man. Honestly, she was a bit unsure on talking to the stranger man. Considering how high the criminal rates were raising in the city, she was trying to be cautious with anyone around her, even at work. Perhaps motherhood was starting to make her paranoid, but now she was responsible for someone other than herself. “She’s four months old”, she told him, so he got a baby on the way, that means he wouldn’t try to kidnap hers. “Gosh, you want tips from a four months old mom?”, she joked with a small chuckle, “I read a lot while I was pregnant, and when she arrived I was feeling a bit secure on what I had to do. I guess each baby is different, and you’ll have to learn the best approach day after day. I’m pretty sure your wife will help you through the process”

—

Now, Jacques never forgets a face — especially a pretty one. But more than her own beauty, Mirela had found him some to take home; for a hefty pricetag at that, but its made for many conversation starters as it hangs in the middle of his living room. He hasn’t bought any more art since — hearing of Mirela’s maternity leave, he was set that he would trust only her. 

“Ha. Leonardo DiCaprio ain’t got shit on this.” Nor the ego to match. “Long time, Mademoiselle Carter — are you here, as my translator?” Meant as a joke, but perhaps not entirely so. Hard on his ears, and musical to hers; there’s a clear advantage, there. “How is, the little one?”

“You’re right. Besides, I gave up on him long ago, I’m already way too old for his taste”, Mirela joked with a small shrug. Poor Morrone, barely reached the age of twenty five and they broke up. Guess it was true the rumors about Leo not wanting to have anything with ‘old’ ladies.

Jacques, always so charming. She gave him a smug smile and shook her head, “How  presumptuous of you to think I’m here to work for you tonight”, her voice was playful, “I’m just trying to get back on being social again before my maternity leave is over”, she explained. Mirela’s smile got brighter, and she felt like glowing when he asked about Erika, “She’s perfect, my best creation. Would you like to see a pic of her?”, she was already unlocking her phone so she could show some pictures. Altough she was active on social media, she very private with her daughter online and barely posted pics of her.

Puck was moving aimlessly through the crowd, their friends moved on to a party in the east end with a promise of a very different kind of entertainment. They had stayed behind to see the show through to the end, leaving at intermission was a cardinal sin, disrespect to the actors and the playwright. At least that’s what her mother had taught them, and so she wandered the crowd waiting for the show to begin again.

She hadn’t expected to be tapped on the shoulder by one of the New York city’s socialites, but the attention wasn’t entirely unwelcome. Allowing a grin the slide across their face, “No need to apologize, it’s a simple mistake, though you’ll have to tell me who you mistook me for. Your friend has to have great taste if our looks are so similar” their voice held a cocky, self assured tone with an ever present undercurrent of flirtation.

First of all, Mirela was really flattered by the subtly tone of flirtation on the stranger’s voice. It’d been months since she was playing this game, but hearing it again made her feel awesome again. Of course she still got it, she was Mirela Fucking Carter, newest milf in New York City. Second, it took her simple roll of eyes and tilt of her head to hide the disgusted shiver from the assumption. “I thought you were my sister, you’re almost the same height”, she explained.

—-

Samira smiled slightly. “They had billed this play as a grand production - it’s not holding your interest?” she asked, setting her phone back down and putting her attention on someone else. She coped best when she wasn’t thinking of her husband or his volatile moods. “I can’t say I have the right decisions,” she said, standing as well to try and ease the continued pain in her side. She could use all the witchhazel, take zinc and calcium and still find her body sore. “Ah, Sorry. My husband says that the minute there’s quiet, I have to fill it.” 

Mirela tilted her head, alright, she was doing this... She’ll be the annoying first time mother that would take any chance to bring her child into conversation and love every minute of it. “My daughter is three months older and I just can’t wait to have this play over so I can go home and be with her again”, she said like the proud mom she’s shaping to. She chuckled softly, her attention turning now back to the woman when she mentioned her husband. “No, I am sorry, my head was somewhere else for a moment, but I’m back”, she joked, a bit nervously. Mirela wanted to ask about her husband, if he was one of the wrong decisions she mentioned, or if married life could be something positive. Perhaps it would be for the best to be just her and baby Erika for life. “How about you, are you enjoying the play?”, she picked the less personal route for now.

Mirela was uneasy about something, but she couldn’t quite put a finger on what it was making her feel that way. No, it wasn’t that desperate urge to go back home and stay with her daughter for the rest of the evening. Maybe it was the play, that wasn’t really vibing with her, or it was the idea that she’d have to endure more of that while she was still getting used to go out in public again. No matter how good the evening seemed for social media posts, she was really not in the same energy.

Then, something sparkled... She thought she had seen someone that could help her with that feeling in her gut. A few steps later, she was facing the back of the girl she thought it was her sister and tapped her shoulder. Mirela was about to call on her for not telling her she’d be at the event, arms almost open for a hug, when she realized it wasn’t her little sorry. “Oh gosh, I’m so sorry, I’ve mistaken you for someone else”

Mirela Carter at Shakespeare at the Park (August 2022)

Patients came and went, however, in the sea of them, some did stand out. Just recently, Nora had found herself sympathizing with a certain pregnant lady. Mirela had caught her eye from the start, charismatic and easy-going, no one would’ve guessed how complicated her situation was. The father of the baby she’d mentioned once or twice, but it was clear he was out of the picture. 

Some weeks after Mirela and her daughter had been discharged, Nora found herself wondering about them. Admittedly, the Vidal did feel a bit bad about not being able to get them a more personal gift, but she compensated by bringing the biggest gift basket in the world, after getting lost in the labyrinth also known as the baby store. And the brunette hesitated upon entering, fearing she might be interrupting, wary of any inarticulate sounds she might come across. 

“Hello Mirela– I hope you don’t mind me dropping by, I just–” What? Her mind failed to produce an excuse, a valid explanation, so in the end she decided to go with the truth, said in a soft tone, as she didn’t know where the infant was. “Just wanted to check up on you,” followed by a sheepish smile. “How have you been?”

Mirela would be lying if she said she liked Nora right away. She was very suspicious about the doctor at first, but she quickly grew on her, and Mirela would message her asking about anything, from which was the best tea she could take during the pregnancy to any doubt she had about something she read about, those scientific terms were really confusing.

By the end of her pregnancy, she had wished Nora was her doctor instead. It’s wasn’t like she didn’t trust her doctor, but there was something about Nora being close to her age or how she was able to trust her in a short period of time. Either way, Mirela would be happy with having the friendship, and she was delighted to welcome Nora in her home.

“I really don’t mind”, she said with a soft smile and step aside so Nora could walk inside. “You are so gentle”, Mirela said while she closed the door behind her, enjoying this feeling inside her chest, to have someone other than family caring about her. “I’ve been exhausted”, she said with a small chuckled, “I feel, I don’t know, it’s like I’ve never been this happy, or proud, but it’s still so exhausting”, she scrunched her nose a bit before sitting upon her leg on the couch. “Thanks for asking, and for the visit. It’s nice to feel a bit more like myself when I’m not being a mom”

=

EMINE HAD BEEN MEANT TO VISIT a little earlier and give the gift that she’d bought but work and real life had gotten in the way. After texting Mirela to check in that it was okay for her to come by, she went up to the pent house and smiled at the new mom. “Look at you, you’re glowing.” Moving towards her, she gave her a hug before stepping back. “Is the baby sleeping? I cannot wait to get my hands on her but I don’t want to wake her up when she’s trying to get some sleep done.” Chewing her lower lip, she looked around and handed the gift she’d bought. “I got this a little while ago so I’m hoping she already hasn’t outgrown it but I think there’s a gift receipt in there.” There were also necessities for a young baby outside of the clothes.

Mirela tilted her head, smiling a little brighter at both the sight of her friend in her living room and the compliment. Since everyone around her was telling the same thing, she was beggining to believe it despite the black circles under her eyes. “Thank you”, she said and hugged Emine, feeling like she hadn’t been up twice during the night to feed and calm Erika down during a cramps episode. Mirela chuckled, “She’s sleeping like eighty percent of the day”, she took a look on her phone and saw the time, “C’mon, her nap time is almost over. We can watch her until she wakes up, honestly, it’s one of my favorite things to do, when I’m not sleeping”, she said and got the gift bag, “Aw, Em... Thank you. I’ll see if it fits her later”, she said while she closed the door behind them and walked upstairs, heading towards Erika’s nursery. “How have you been? It feels like ages since we last talked”

—

“Hey,” Hans greets, somewhat drawn-out. With the way he looks at her, it might as well be a first meeting — come every flashback, he can’t recall ever knowing Mirela this way. Slim figure, walking without a companion in and out of rooms. There’s no missing it, he’s a taken aback; brain working overtime to wrap itself around such a sudden change. The miracle of life, he thinks, is weird as fuck. “You’re looking good.”

He steps inside, and hands her the bottle of whiskey he’d plucked out of the shelves from the 7-11 across the street. “You can drink now, right?” Fuck if he knows. Further into her place, his gaze pivots to each corner of the room, furniture pieces, over the horizon through the window. “So where’s—” 

Mirela couldn’t hold back the small giggle with Hans’ reaction. Sure, she still had some of the post pregnancy body yet, but Hans has never seen her like that. The man who once was a stranger grew a bit on her after a couple of pilates classes, especially on her last trimester. It must had been a complete shock for him to meet her like that, almost slim and less swollen and happier, “Please...”, she rolled her eyes in a dramatic manner, “I look amazing, but thank you”, she winked back at him playfully before stepping aside and letting him in.

She eyed the whiskey bottle on his hand and then his face, “A bit, yes”, she made the math, and since she had bumped some breast milk before, she would have need to worry about feeding Erika after the alcoohol was out of her system. She headed towards the bar to get two glasses so they can both enjoy the drink, “She’s at the nursery”, she tells him and places the glasses upon the table, noticing how eager he seemed to finally meet her baby. “C’mon, you may see her, but you must promise me you won’t make any noise or you’ll be on sitter duty for the rest of the day”, it’s not a real threaten, but Mirela would definitely curse him if he ruined Erika’s afternoon nap. She leaded him upstairs and carefully opened the nursery door, the baby scent immediatelly welcoming them. With light steps, she entered the room, looking back to check if he was following her. Then she stops by the crib and turned the lampside on, “She’s perfect, don’t you agree?”, she whispered softly, her gaze never leaving the sight of her sleepy daugther.

›››

Devon wasn’t surrounded by many people like herself. As the years went on, everybody had their different priorities and hers was certainly her career. She had worked hard to reach where she was at, despite what everyone thought. She took pride in her humble beginnings, who wouldn’t? But, she knew she preferred her current tax bracket much more than when she was younger. She was happy to be able to spoil her friends and family. Hearing the good news of baby Erika’s birth, she knew she needed to pay a visit to the new mom and newborn. She stood out of Mirela’s door with one arm wrapped around a box and her other hand holding a comically large gift bag. As she heard the doorknob turn, a smile beamed across her face.

“Mirela!” She greeted her, excitement pouring through her tone. “Congratulations on your bundle of joy! I’m so happy for you. I wanted to drop off some goodies.” 

It was funny how life changed after she had a baby. Mirela had another person under her care, a tiny person that demanded her attention 24/7. Still, this was the time when she slowed down, running away from all the rush and busy routine she had with her job. It wasn’t like she didn’t miss it, but it was something she couldn’t explain. Deep down, Mirela knew how she wouldn’t go back and fall on that same crazy routine again. Surprisingly, slowing things down was growing up on her. She had a bit more time to take care of herself, and she was seeing friends and have some quality time, real quality time, out from the galas and high society events.

Her smile grew back at the sight of Devon, her face not able to hide the surprise when she saw all the goodies her friend was carrying on her arms. “Devon!”, she chuckled, unsure if she would try a hug or help with the box first. “Thank you. I’m happy too, most of times. Come inside, you didn’t have to drop anything, but I really appreciate the gesture”, she said and stepped aside so Devon could walk in and make herself comfortable.